In Wake of New WikiLeaks Release, JFK, Ellsberg's Remarks on 'Secrecy', 'Covert Ops' Worth Noting

[BradBlog]

In Wake of WikiLeaks Cable Release, JFK, Ellsberg's Remarks on 'Secrecy', 'Covert Ops' Worth Noting
JFK '61: 'Word 'secrecy' is repugnant in a free and open society'
Ellsberg '08: 'Most covert ops deserve to be disclosed by free press'

As the information from WikiLeaks latest release of documents becomes public, and as the U.S. Government continues to scramble to mitigate what the White House is calling today a "reckless and dangerous" leak, condemning it "in the strongest terms" as an alleged threat to national security, it's worth keeping in mind, for valuable perspective, what the 1970s legendary "Pentagon Papers" whistleblower Daniel Ellsberg wrote in an op/ed for The BRAD BLOG in early 2008...

Many, if not most, covert operations deserve to be disclosed by a free press. They are often covert not only because they are illegal but because they are wildly ill-conceived and reckless. "Sensitive" and "covert" are often synonyms for "half-assed," "idiotic," and "dangerous to national security," as well as "criminal."

As well, John F. Kennedy's April 1961 speech on what he described as this nation's abhorrence of secrecy, and the necessity of a free press --- as delivered to the American Newspaper Publishers Association at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York a year or so before his death --- is rather astonishing, and more than a bit ironic, in light of today's leaks and, as directly, the actions of the Executive Branch and its enablers in this country --- in Congress, in the mainstream media and in the public --- over the past dark decade. JFK's remarks include these thoughts among others that must be heard or read...

The very word "secrecy" is repugnant in a free and open society; and we are as a people inherently and historically opposed to secret societies, to secret oaths and to secret proceedings. We decided long ago that the dangers of excessive and unwarranted concealment of pertinent facts far outweighed the dangers which are cited to justify it.
...
And there is very grave danger that an announced need for increased security will be seized upon by those anxious to expand its meaning to the very limits of official censorship and concealment.
...
And no official of my Administration, whether his rank is high or low, civilian or military, should interpret my words here tonight as an excuse to censor the news, to stifle dissent, to cover up our mistakes or to withhold from the press and the public the facts they deserve to know.
...
No President should fear public scrutiny of his program. For from that scrutiny comes understanding; and from that understanding comes support or opposition. And both are necessary.

MUCH MORE, INCLUDING AUDIO EXCERPT OF JFK SPEECH: http://www.bradblog.com/?p=8214

[Metric System]

1. Didn't the Kennedy admin. engage in covert ops re: Castro?

[HillbillyBob]

5. Actually those were in the works and I think he was arm twisted

into going along when he did not order a second attempt on Castros Cuba 'they' did not like it. The mobsters wanted their casinos back and 'businessmen' lost a bunch on shady businesses there.
After all it was only a short flight or boat trip out of Key West 90 104 miles to the docks in Havana.

[A-Schwarzenegger]

2. Love to have had WikiLeaks in 1963-64.

[craigmatic]

3. Some people think this is part of the reason he was shot.

[zeemike]

8. I am one of them....but that was only one part of it.

He had stepped on the wrong toes when he failed to use the US military to aid the Pay of Pigs invasion...the mob had lost it's property (Havana) when Castro took over and they wanted it back....then he pisses off the military over Viet Nam and his fate was sealed.

[Catherina]

4. Rec'd. Great post n/t

[BradBlog]

7. Thanks, Catherina n/t

[loudsue]

6. Timely reminder. It seems, according to our "free press", as if the history of the USA has been

demoted to the trashbins in the RNC.

[Overseas]

9. sad K&R. //nt

[midnight]

10. We are fortunate that President Kennedy recognized the

seriousness of why secrecy would not be a safety feature for our country and put it in the records...

[BrklynLiberal]

11. Sad..so sad...and since then, only more and more secrecy,deception and tragedy...